Can not get any chanels through the digital converter please help

I hooked up a magnavox tb110mw9 converter according to the instructions w/o a/v jacks. I get nothing. I have run the autoscan and no chnls or no sgnl found. sgnl strngth is 0. I get beautiful clear pictures of all available chnls in my area using only my vhs roof antenna. dstnc from tv twrs is appx 75 mls south with no visable mountain obstructions and no buildings. When i leave the cnvrtr bx hooked up to tv but turned off and chng chnls on the tv there is poor reception not crystal clear as it is w/o the box straight to antenna. i turned the antenna with the box turned on & watching the signal strength meter. the best strength reading was a 15 and only chnl it barely rcvd was OPB that was extremely distorted with pixellets and no audio. my antenna has been secured in this position aprx 15 - 20 ft above ground since 1975 never affected by gale force wind, snow, rain or surrounding trees. If it is picking up the analog signals with perfectly clear reception in this position, shouldnt it be the same for the digital signals? Please give me an answer soon, as I am running out of time. Do I have to raise the antenna? If so how high? Do I need to buy a different antenna? If so what kind?
Thank you.
Tammy C

in response to the plugs backwards on the tv: how can i have it backwards when there is only one going from box to tv? (I did switch the two on the box and result was as if it was totally disconnected) Re: turning antenna; i have done this turning (spinning slowly 360 degrees) and only found a 15 in signal strength which was only turning an inch from the current position. I didn't, however; change the height of the antenna. Is height of antenna a factor in finding digital signal?in response to the plugs backwards on the tv: how can i have it backwards when there is only one going from box to tv? (I did switch the two on the box and result was as if it was totally disconnected) Re: turning antenna; i have done this turning (spinning slowly 360 degrees) and only found a 15 in signal strength which was only turning an inch from the current position. I didn't, however; change the height of the antenna. Is height of antenna a factor in finding digital signal?

2 Answers

Digital tv signals require a better antenna than we could get by with the old analog tv signal. You need a "fringe" rooftop antenna. I would try the $100 model from Radio Shack. Use only RG6 cable, and as short a run of cable as possible. As you are 75 miles from the broadcast station, you may need additional height on your antenna and/ or a signal booster. Visit antennaweb.org for additional information for your area. Antennas do become corroded after many years and need to be replaced. Point the end of the antenna with the smaller elements toward the broadcast station.

Make sure its set to antenna than have someone go up and turn while u seek the signal try a channel thats works good but not perfect than go from there. if not u have ur plugs backwords in the tv not the device.

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Related Questions:

I assume that you are attempting to use the Magnavox converter box to convert digital TV signals received by your antenna system into analog signals for use on an older analog (non-digital) TV set. If that is the case then your first step at troubleshooting the problem should be to view the Magnavox installation instructions to ensure that the converter, antenna, and TV are all properly connected. http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/setup-converterbox.pdf

If you are receiving digital signal and channel is fuzzy, something wrong. Only Analog signal is fuzzy. With Digital it is great picture or nothing. For channel 6, check to see if they are broadcasting in digital yet. If they are not, this is why you are not getting a signal. If they are broadcasting in digital, then you need a stronger antenna.

Rabbit ears are not strong enough to pik up the digital signal. You need to buy a DIGITAL antenna. You can pick a powered one up at Wal-Mart, or any retailer for around 20 bucks. Once you have the proper type of antenna, go through the setup sequence again and then you will be in the "digital age". You will wonder why they didn't do this sooner!

Connect your rabbit ears to the Insignia. Connect the Insignia to the antenna input on the "cvd/vcr combo". Now turn on the television to show the "cvd/vcr combo".

The Insignia simply goes between your antenna and your television. In your case you also have a vcr so if you want the VCR to be able to play and record digital stations you will need the Insignia between the vcr and the antenna.

The antenna must be hooked up to the converter box. The better the antenna, the better your reception will be.

Not everyone in the country will be in range of digital signals. Digital signals have a shorter range than analog signals do right now. It is possible (but unlikely) that you are not currently in range of any digital signals.

So make sure you are set up like this - Antenna--converter box--Television. Then scan for channels. You should still pick up any analog signals while the box is hooked up, you will just view them the same way you do now, by changing the TV station rather than the converter box station.